What Car? Q&A - What's the benefit of bigger wheels?

Q: Can you please tell me the benefits (or otherwise) of ordering 16-inch wheels instead of the standard 15-inch ones for my new VW Golf? The extra cost will be £320.
Stuart Harrold

A: Bigger wheels tend to give a car a more sporty or aggressive look. When ordering bigger wheels for a new car, as you are doing, larger wheels require lower-profile tyres to keep the same rolling diameter (for speedometer accuracy and so on). Lower-profile tyres have stiffer sidewalls, and this is what makes the ride, handling and steering of cars with larger wheels all feel sharper.

For anyone buying larger wheels as an aftermarket accessory, you may have to alter the speedometer gearing if the rolling diameter is greater than the previous tyres.

The downside of buying bigger wheels is that the ride may feel firmer, so it's worth test-driving the car first to check it's still comfortable for you. They may also be more expensive to replace, should you need to.

Bigger wheels are also easier to damage on kerbs as you park.